Iraq veterans talk about taking the road back

U.S. Air Force veteran Greg Vega is an artist and filmmaker. He works part-time merican Legion Veterans Success Center in the War Memorial building in San Francisco, California. Here he watches Susan Curtis look for jobs. Photo by Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

For many U.S. military veterans, the road back to civilian life is challenging in ways preparing for war never was. In this Sunday’s Insight, East Bay freelance writer Brenda Payton interviews five veterans of U.S. wars abroad. Three are men, two are women. Their stories are different, but very similar, too. The military trained them for war but hasn’t prepared them to return to civilian life.

The Chronicle partnered with radio station KALW on this project. You can read Payton’s interview with David Smith here. You can also listen to KALW’s Casey Miner’s radio interview with Smith here.

We’re interested in hearing your thoughts about our military veterans and life in America after 10 years of war. Please submit your Letter to the Editor here.